Telephone transmitter



April 14, 1925. 1,533,730

- R. A. ENGLER TELEPHONE-TRANSMITTER Original Filed'sept. 2, 1919 9 I j 6 h5 In venfor.

Patented Apr. 14, 1925,

[UNITED STATES PATENT". OFFICE.

RICHARD A. nNGnEn, oir'nnw'yoax, 11. Y.

' TELEPHONE 'rnansmr'rrnn.

Original application filed September 2, 1919, Serial No. 821,195. Divided and this'application filed July 29, 1924. Serial 1T0. 728,974;

To all whom it may'conoem:

a citizen of the United'States, and resident of New York city, in the county and borough 5 of Richmond and State of New York, have i made certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Transmitters, of which the following is a specification. k

This application is a division of my aplication Serial #321,195, filed Sept. 2, 1919, or gaseous telephone transmitters, for which patent was issued Sept. 9, 1924, #1,507,884;.

The broad idea is also disclosed in m Patcut #1,44L3,62O of Jan. 30, 1923, filed June The objectof my invention is to produce a highly sensitivetrafismitter, one in which a distorting diaphragm is unnecessary and onewhich utilizes the air not only as the medium for conveying the sound waves, but

also as the conducting medium for the elec-,

tric current and the air path or stream thereby becoming the variable medium of the transmitter for translating the sound waves directly intoelectrical variations similar to the sound variations Other gas. than air may also be employed in certain modifications of this transmitter. These transmitters can be made in large as wellas small sizes.

This transmitter being so sensitive, serves the ear as the microscope serves the eye.

All the devices as used, showny-and described in the gas path of Fig.1 in the above patent can be used in the gas path herein shown and described. v

Referring to the figure forming part of this specification v Two electrodes 1 and 2, spaced apart somewhat, are connected in series with a battery 3 and the primary 4 of an induction coil. The secondary 5 of this induction coil is in series with a telephone receiver 6. The space or column of air or gasbetween the electrodes 1 and 2 is ionized by X rays 7 or the like by which I mean any known means of ionization, excluding the carbon are proper of course, because this is an old idea, but praeticalljp inoperative for obvious reasons. When rays are used as the ionizing means, then a comparatively low voltage and soft X-ray tube will suflice and only a very small tube need be used. "Current can flow either way, that is, from either electrode, with this means of ionization. This Be it known that I, RICHARD A. ENGLER,

ionized path may or may not be enclosed in a container. I When gas other than air is used it must be enclosed in a vessel. When air is used, the sound waves themselves may act as the obstructing, varying, impeding or throttling means, because the condensation and rarefaction of the air is equivalent to the opening and closing of a valve. The air space or column is spoken to directly without the intervention of a distorting diaphragm. When X rays are used as the ioniz- 1ng means, then the same source of electric energy can be used for both the X-ray tube and the transmitter pat Any air disturbing or sound producing means can be placed directly in the conductmg air path because there is no heat necessary m the operation of this transmitter, although this 1s not sayingthat heat cannot be produced in the path or column of air by the passing of the current or otherwise if heat should be desired in the transmitter variable medium or in the electrodes or both. The current flow also stops the X rays from going beyond the current path. There is nothing which can burn out in the form of transmitter as herein shownand a low voltage can be used as well as high voltage; both of which desirable qualities are not so easily attained when other means of ionizationare employed, as it is possible to do and as men; tioned in the above patent.

A diaphragm 8 with a small magnet 9 attached to it may serve to vary the air or gas column if desired. The magnet deflects the air path more or less and besides varying 'the current flow may also cause a new set of sound waves thru the motion of the air column to and fr) thus reproducing the original sounds spoken to the diaphragm.

also be used. This transmitter is described in my article on Gaseous telephone transmit-. ters in the Electrical Experimenter (now Science and Invention) for March 1920 page 1154. 1

When the receiver 6 is employed as a magneto transmitter, then voice currents will be 9 I ttery and an induction coil, the sound waves directly causing said ionized air.

superposed on the current flowing thru the air path and thereby; cause an effect m the path similar to that 6f. a telephone recelver or other useful result.

I do not limit myself to the precise arran ment and equipment shown and desc'ri ed, because the fundamental conditions are so simple that an almost infinite variety of detail is possible without departing from the. spirit of my invention or calling forth.

the inventive faculty.

- I claim 1 Ina tele hohe transmitter, the combination of a pan of electrodes and an ionized column of air between them, both included in a circuit consisting further of a battery and an induction coil, said ionized air 601- umn serving both as the sound wave conveying medium and current conductin medium, the said column of air being direct y spoken to to vary the current flow in said circuit.

2. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of a. pan of electrodes .and an ionized column of airbetween them, both included "a telephone transmitter circuit'which consists in providing a column of air insaid clrcult as the vanable medlum, lomzing said air column and causing said column of air 'to serve both as the sound wave conveying and current conducting medium and thereby causing said current in said circuit to be varied dlrectly by said sound waves.

4. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of an open ionized air path included in a circuit consisting of a pair of electrodes, abattery and an induction coil, the sound waves dlrectly causing said ionized air path to be varied between said electrodes thereby varying-the current flow. in said circuit.

5.. In a telephone transmitten the combination of an ionized air stream included in a circuit conslstmgof a pair of electrodes,a

stream-to be varied between said electrodes thereby varying the current flow in said circuit and varying said air stream.

- 6. In ap alratus of the'character described,

an air at ionized between electrodes and include in. a suitable circuit, saidairpath I conveying both. the stud .waves and the ,current, whereby said sound waves are .caused'to'affect said current directlyl r In apparatus of the character described an air includ conveying both the sound waves and the a th ionized between electrodes-and:

m a suitable circuit, said air path currentjconducting medium and thereby nusaveo current whereby said sound wavesdir ctv 1y mold saidcurrent,

' P51. y 8. In apparatus of the character described, an air path ionized between electrodes and included in a suitable circuit, said air path conveying both the sound waves and the current, whereby said close association causes one to affect the other.

9. 'The method of producing variations in a telephone transmitter circuit which consists inproviding a column of air in said circuit as the variable medium, ionizing said air column and causing said column of air to serve both as the sound wave conveying and current conducting medium and thereby causing said current in said circuit to be varied by said direct association.

10. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of'a pair of electrodes and an ionized column of air between them, both included 5'? in a circuit con'sisti further of a battery and an induction co iI, said ionized air column serving both as the sound wave conveying and current conducting medium, the said column of air being directly variedin density to vary the current flow in said circuit.

11. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of a pair of electrodes and an unheated ionized column of air between them, both included in a'circuit consisting further of a battery and an induction coil, said I ionized air column serving both as the sound wave conveying and currentconducting medium, the said column of air being directly s ken to to vary the current flow in said circuit. V

12. In a telephone transmitter the combination of a pair of electrodes an an ionized column of air between them, both included in a circuit-oonsistin further of a batte and an induction coil, said ioniz'ed'air co umn serving both as the sound wave conveying and current conducting medium, the

said column of air being directly caused to I become rarefied and condensed to-vary the resistanceo'f said circuit. I 13. In a telephone transmitter,.= the combination of a pairof electrodes and an ionized column of air between them both included in a circuit consistin further of a batter and an induction coi said ionized air co umn serving both as the sound wave conve F ing mediumand current conducting me ium, the said oolumnof air being vibrated by a diaphragm magnet member, thereby causing a change in current flow in said cir-' cuit and an agitation of-the surrounding air.

' 14. The method .of producingvariations in a telephonetransmitter circuit. whichconsists in providing a pathpf air in said'circuit as theyariable med um, ionizing said air path and causing said path of air to serve'both as the sound wave conveying and no causing said. current in said circuit to be varied directly by said sound waves,

15. In. a telephone transmitter, the combination of a pair ofelectrodes and a gas or vapor path between them, both included in a circuit consisting further of a battery and an induction coil, said gas or vapor path serving both as the sound wave conveying medium and current conducting medium, the said gas or vapor path being directly spoken to to vary the current flow in said circuit.

16. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of a. air of electrodes and an ionized column air between them, both included in a circuit consisting further of a battery and an induction coil, said ionized air column serving both as the air wave conveying medium and current conducting medium, the said column of air beingd irectly agitated to vary the current flow In said circuit.

17. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of electrodes and an air path between them, both included in a suitable circuit, said air path being ionized by suitable means and made variable by air waves, whereby is made variable.

18. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of electrodes and an air path be: tween them both included in asuitable electric circuit means for causing said air path itself to become conductive, said air path serving both as the sound wave conveying and current conducting medium, the said path of air being directly varied in density to vary the currentflow in said circuit.

19. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of a pair of electrodes and an ionized column of air between them, both included in a circuit consisting further of a battery and an induction coil, said iomzed air column serving as the current conducting medium, the said colunm of air being vibrated by a diaphragm-magnet member, thereby causing a change in current flow in said circuit and an agitation of the sur-- rounding air.

20. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of a pair of electrodes and an ionized column of air between them, both in cluded in a circuit consisting further of a battery and an induction coil, said ionized air COlUlllll serving as the current conducting medium, the said column of air being the current flow thru said air path;

vibrated by a diaphragm-magnet member, thereby causing a change in the'current flow in said-circuit and causing said air path to vibrate as a second diaphragm.

.21. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of a pair of electrodes and an ion- .ized stream of air between them, both included in a circuit consisting further of a battery and an induction coil, said ionized air stream serving as the current conducting medium, the said stream of air being vibrated by a diaphragm-magnet member, thereby causing a change in current flow in said circuit and an agitation of the surrounding air.

22.-In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an ionized air path between electrodes and both included in a suitable electric circuit and means for causing niagnetic lines of force to become vibratory, said vibrating lines of force causing said air path to become vibratory, said vibration of said air path causing sound waves to be generated.

23. The method of producing electrical variations in a circuit, which consists in causing ionized air waves to as thru an airv column forming part of sald circuit.

24:. In a telephone transmitter, the combination of a gas or vapor path forming part ofa suitable circuit and a diaphragm placed adjacent said gasor vapor path, the vibration of said diaphragm afi'ecting said gas or vapor path and thereby the current flow in said circuit.

25. In a telephone transmitter, the com- I circuit, and a magnet located near said path,

said ionized path being made variable by directing air waves against said path and said magnet, whereb the current in said circuit is varied, said path conveying both the sound waves and the current.

26. In telephonic apparatus, the combi nation of electrodes and an ionized air path between them, both connected in a suitable circuit, means for ionizing said air path and means for causing the current flowingJin said air path to be affected by superposed variable currents, said air path conveying both the current and sound waves.

Signed at New York city, in the county and borough of Richmond and State of New York this 21st day of Jul 1924.

Brennan A. NGLEB. 

